Errorless psychomotor training modulates visuomotor behaviors among older adults

Abstract

This study investigated whether errorless psychomotor training with psychological manipulation could modify visuomotor behaviors in an everyday reaching motor task for older adults, and whether its benefits could be transferrable. A group of 36 older adults (mean age = 71.06, SD = 5.29) were trained on a reaching motor task (lifting a handled mug to a target) utilizing errorless, errorful, or normal psychomotor training.Results indicated that errorless psychomotor training decreased the reaching distance away from the target and the jerkiness of acceleration during the reaching task and transfer test. Errorless psychomotor training also reduced the duration of gaze fixation as well as horizontal and vertical eye activity. Our findings implicated that errorless psychomotor training could improve movement accuracy and alleviate movement variability during reaching by older adults.